Muskegon Lumberjacks preparing for first USHL drafts

It’s been a hectic start to the life of the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States Hockey League.

Even before final approval was given to the expansion franchise to join the league, owner Josh Mervis and others were keeping their eyes open for young players. In all, Mervis has seen at least 165 games in hopes of locating and bringing the best young talent to Muskegon.

Mervis quickly rattles off a list of cities he’s visited: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Toronto, Pittsburgh and many places in between. He’s also been to Marquette and Traverse City. Assistant coach Dave Noel-Bernier has been to Toronto and Chicago.

“I went scouting, we had to go scouting,” Mervis said. “And we had to scout a lot.”

It’s all in preparation for the USHL draft, which begins Monday with the expansion draft. Muskegon heads into this week’s drafts with six pre-draft tenders already signed.

“We wanted to build from the goal out with our tenders,” said Patrick. “We took a great step in doing that with Joel Vienneau in goal and Jaycob Megna, Sebastien Gingras and Mark Yanis on the blueline.

“Then we got two forwards in Matt Berry and Mike Conderman and we’ll look to beef up our front end,” Patrick said. “That will definitely be the target as we head into the draft.”

Monday’s draft will add up to seven players to the Jacks’ roster. Muskegon team officials will receive the list of non-protected players at 8 a.m. and four hours later, the selections will be made. Each of the existing USHL teams can protect eight players.

The following day is the futures draft and this year, players with 1994 birthdates will be chosen. Many will not be ready to play at the USHL level.

The regular entry draft is slated for Wednesday and by the end of the day, Muskegon will have about 35 players on their roster and that includes an affiliates list of young players whose rights can be kept for three years.

“We will see in this draft anywhere from 1990 birthdates and we may see a 1995 drafted,” Mervis said. “I’d be surprised, but not shocked. There are some exceptional guys out there. But as a rule, they are too young to play.”

Draft preparationFive scouts are currently covering the regions of the United States and part of Canada.

“When you’re in the game 15 years, you develop contacts and you hope they respect your work you’ve done and respect you enough to tip you off or recommend a player,” Mervis said. “Then the minute you hear about a player, you go.

“The first time you don’t go after you’ve been tipped, the player turns out to be someone who would turn your franchise’s fortunes.”

Mervis said he is not only looking for quality hockey players, but quality people off the ice.

“We’re looking for winners off the ice and on the ice,” Mervis said. “If we’ve got to take bad people to win, I don’t want to do it. I only want high character people or people who aspire to be the best they can in all of their lives.

“A one-dimensional person will not fit in,” Mervis said. “We’re not the right team for everybody and we don’t try to be. We’re not all things to all people.”

Patrick and Mervis have had conversations with prospective draft picks and will be well prepared heading into the drafts.

“A lot of these kids we will draft, Kevin and I have talked to or our scouts have interviewed them,” Mervis said. “There is a lot to this. This is more like the NHL than anything else. We interview our players.”

Lumberjack officials hope everything's into place this week as Mervis, Patrick, general manager Tim Taylor and Noel-Bernier gather in Indianapolis to conduct the draft. One or two scouts may also join them as the draft proceeds.

Patrick said the reason the draft is being done in Mervis’ office in Indianapolis is the team’s computer system is not place as yet at Walker Arena.

After the draftThere is no lull following the draft. Noel-Bernier, a certified trainer, will be busy right away.

“He will be making a personal visit to tenders and draft picks to work out with them,” Mervis said. “Everyone will get a personal visit from Coach Dave.”

Noel-Bernier will meet the players and their families and provide them with an off-season conditioning program.

“You’re drafted on Saturday in the NFL and on Monday you’re working out with the team,” Mervis said. “We can’t move quite at NFL speed, but we’re getting there.”

In June, the Lumberjacks will host a weeklong camp at L.C. Walker Arena. An open camp will be June 14-16 followed by an invitational-only camp June 17-20. That camp will also include the draft picks. In all, about 75 players will be skating those four days with Coach Patrick putting them through drills and scrimmages. There will also be interviews and physical testing.